For none of us ~
“For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.” (Romans 14:7)
It’s not easy for people to understand and make well use of the world of ‘the general Grace’ which is said in theology. It would be because it’s hard to think of relative things when immersed in a specific field. And the attitude of criticizing others has become a wrong daily habit for people. So those who accept ‘the special Grace’ of theology, that is, the faith and the salvation, may commit the fallacy of being trapped inside that subjective fence and no looking out rightly. God, who made the universe, gave man all the things of ‘the general things’ and ‘the special’. Therefore instead of looking at the world from a narrow perspective in the fence, we would have to try to understand everything with an objective attitude. The attitude that firmly establishes a subjective viewpoint and values objectivity, both are surely needy.
The theme of chapter 14 of the Romans is ‘to respect the brothers’. Brotherhood the text says is about not criticizing brothers and not making them feel uncomfortable. Paul the apostle explained its meaning focusing ‘the brotherhood in Christ’. Speaking according to ‘the general Grace’ of the theology, the neighbors related in our daily life can be all brothers. Nobody can judge whether they are within salvation or not, but some of them may be also those who belong to Christ’s salvation. This means there is a high possibility that it is wrong to think of others under one’s standards. If we insist on such self-centered attitude, we’re not likely to understand and harmonize with each other forever. Even if we look at someone and feel his faith is weak, if we listen and wait silently, the time for understanding and solution will come sometime. Not only God made myself and others all, but also He already knows us fully.
The subjects Paul said are these the food, stewardship of servants, and attaching importance to certain days. That of food is the matter whether we have to eat meat or not. Stewardship of servants is about interference, such as directing to do this or that to someone else’s house. And the question of days is whether or not to observe any specified event or festival, or how to observe and so on, such as church gatherings and rituals. Some people like vegetarian food, but some others like meat food. However either this or that are good foods given by the Lord to eat, so it’s no problem if we eat with gratitude. Even if it’s something I don’t like to eat, it will be good if give looking at other people’s eating quietly. And, it’s not desirable to interfere in the private affairs of other people. Because the talents, specialties, and methods of others are also given by the Lord, so anyone should respect the others as well as oneself.
The most important time of the church’s gatherings is the Sunday worship service. Sunday worship is not a peculiar event, but a time the basic life to be observed in the Christian community. Just as maintaining physical health by eating food, humans need not only rest of the body but also recharge their vitality through rest of the soul. Sunday worship is the time to secure spiritual energy through the word of God the food for the life, and the companionship in the Holy Spirit. If we perform it well, we can give joy to the Lord in itself worship. Other events or gatherings might be reasonably carried out according to the circumstances of each church and in the words of the Bible. It’s not a thing to criticize between oneself and others, or a church A and a church B, even if have different ways. The words Romans 14:5, “Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.” shows us that meaning.
After all, what’s the point Paul the apostle said? That is that whatever we do and how do, we have to do everything ‘for the Lord’. Even if to do as oneself pleases, that does not mean it’s no problem to do in wrong way. Romans 14:6 says this, “Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.” This, ‘for the Lord,’ should be the purpose of life, for whatever he may do. The reason have to do so is because we all the Lord’s possessions. Both man and universal belong to the Lord God. There is nothing in this world that is not owned by the Lord. Many people live without knowing that fact, or looking away from it. Even as they had gone through a fierce competition for survival, had thought themselves the owners of living. As long as they were thinking that, they could never rely upon the Lord. It is Christ Jesus who opened the way for salvation in order to make men realize it and anew.
‘We’, the subjective being in the text, refers to brothers of faith who are saved by Christ. One who believes in Christ cannot live for oneself or die for oneself. Because the person knows that oneself is a being renewed by Christ. Christ is the One who died and came back to life, for both the dead and the living. Therefore, Christ's people should try to learn and practice the love for everyone, rather than criticizing others.
(Written by Koonoh, Pastor of JDO Presbyterian Church in Korea, on Jan 15th 2023)